Blood In, Blood Out (1993)

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on step-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

Ross Thomas (story), Jimmy Santiago Baca (screenplay)

Stars:

Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Damian Chapa	...	Miklo
Jesse Borrego	...	Cruz
Benjamin Bratt	...	Paco
Enrique Castillo	...	Montana
Victor Rivers	...	Magic Mike
Delroy Lindo	...	Bonafide
Tom Towles	...	Red Ryder
Carlos Carrasco	...	Popeye
Teddy Wilson	...	Wallace
Raymond Cruz	...	Chuey
Valente Rodriguez	...	Frankie
Lanny Flaherty	...	Big Al
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Lightning
Geoffrey Rivas	...	Carlos
Karmin Murcelo	...	Dolores

Storyline

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on step-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.

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Plot Keywords:

mexican | barrio | gang war | 1980s | 1970s | 

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Taglines:

From the Director of An Officer And A Gentleman and the Producer of La Bamba.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality and drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Arabic

Release Date:

30 April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blood In, Blood Out

Filming Locations:

St. Mary's Catholic Church - 400 South Chicago Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,002,548, 2 May 1993

Gross USA:

$4,496,583

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,496,583

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Vato De Atole Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min 190 min (director's cut) 330 min (original cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

No special effects nor prosthetics were used on Damian Chapa ( Miklos ) leg. In fact, A stunt double, who looked almost identical and had a prosthetic leg was used during the camera angles. Their are several times throughout the movie where Miklos hair is darker and thicker in which case its when the stunt double is filling in. One scene in particular, when the AV'rs take Miklos leg and are disrespecting him, when he falls on the floor and drags himself, you can clearly tell it's not Damian Chapa.

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Goofs

In the scene where the young boy is laying dead on the ground from a heroin overdose, the young actor can be seen to blink his eyes.

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Quotes

Big Al: And now for my brown brothers... Sorry no tortillas!

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Crazy Credits

"The bloody era of prison gang warfare, which characterized much of California's prison system during the decade depicted in this film, is now under control."

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Alternate Versions

The VHS and Laserdisc versions of this movie have subtitles for some of the Spanish words and phrases. These are completely absent from the DVD. They aren't even in the subtitles.

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Connections

References Baby Cakes (1983)

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Soundtracks

Try Me
Written by James Brown
Performed by James Brown
Courtesy of Polygram Special Markets

User Reviews

great story, nice and long so one can enjoy it more than the average flick

i believe that is one of the better movies ever to come out. a truly amazing story of what life can entail between brothers and how the choices you make defines your direction in life. OK, one might argue that it is rather cheap in the budgetary sense and consequently not a respectable director nor actors are in it makes the flick only more interesting. The acting is however quite good and the prisoners are more than realistic. In other words it gives a nice insight in US (prison-gang)life. On top of that i personally am a great fan of true stories as this is. it is a shame that bad distribution has not given this the place in movie history that it deserves.